Quick Coinage Facts
Years Minted: 1987
Composition: 90% Silver, 10% Copper
Diameter: 31 mm
Weight: 15 grams (13,5 g. fine silver, = 0,435 oz.)
Mintage: 5, 000, 000 (approximate)
Obverse Design: Portrait of La Fayette
Reverse Design: Tree of Liberty
Introduction
Between 1986 and 1996 the French authorities issued several commemorative coins celebrating the bicentenial of the French Revolution. In 1986, a 100 Francs coin representing the creation of French sculptor Bartholdi : the Statue of Liberty (for the centenial of its inauguration in NYC) was a big success in terms of hoarding and purchase, on both sides of the Atlantic.
The next year, the French Mint decided then to issue another coin with a French/American theme : General La Fayette, a hero of the American Independance war, and a (more controversial) leader in the French Revolutionary Army.
Design
The Obverse represents the portrait of General La Fayette, reproducing a medal of the 18th Century by the Engraver Duvivier (who also designed type sets of Louis XVI before 1790). On that coin the General is wearing a costume of Officer of the American Army. Under the portrait is a small flower, mark of the "Atelier de Gravure" (team of Engravers of the French Mint), and the abreviation "D'ap . B . Duvivier" // "After B. Duvivier" in English. Encircling the portrait on the outer periphery, are the words "Général La Fayette" and "République Française" // " French Republic" in English.
The words "Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité" // "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" in English, appear on the Reverse, arranged as a tree of Liberty, with a phrygian cap on the top. Beneath are the facial value, mint marks and year. On the right side is the flower mark again, with the signature of the designer for the Reverse : Durand-Megret.
The edge is smooth.
| Obverse | Reverse |
|---|---|
|
 |
Detailed Mintage Figures
| 1987 Essay | 1, 850 |
| 1987 | 4, 821, 000 (BU Silver included) |
| 1987 Proof Silver | 30, 000 |
| 1987 Piefort Silver | 100, 000 (95 % Silver) |
| 1987 BU Gold | 10, 000 |
| 1987 Proof Gold | 20, 000 |
| 1987 Piefort Gold | 50 |
| 1987 Proof Palladium | 7, 000 |
| 1987 Proof Platinum | 8, 500 |
General Market Notes
As for the previous commemorative coin "Statue of Liberty", many BU and Proof coins in Silver, Gold, Palladium and Platinum were issued, as well as numerous Pieforts.